It's understandable why somebody would want to become a
professional wrestler. There's the promise of riches, fame, and a chance to
live a dream as a real-life superhero or villain inside the squared circle. But
the reality isn't quite what many expect it to be, whether that's here in
America or in the world of Mexican Lucha Libre. Lucha Mexico is a documentary that takes an inside
look at what Lucha Libre is really like, and while it's probably Mexico's most
popular form of entertainment that doesn't involve a goalie, it can get awfully
lonely under the mask.
Directors Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz
capture the spectacle and the mystery of Lucha Libre, although they don't
really add anything new to the conversation. But what they do very effectively
is look at it from an outsider's perspective, because wrestling is very
different down in Mexico than it is up here. There are some similarities, of
course, particularly in the theatricality of it all, but whereas WWE
superstars' lives are an open book nowadays, the babyface "technicos"
and evil "rudos" of Lucha Libre live their lives in relative secrecy.
Many of the luchadores wrestle under
masks, and those who do commit to a legacy that stretches back to the beginning
of the 20th century. For a luchador to lose his mask in a match is to lose his
identity. The results can be emotionally and professionally devastating. In the
case of Blue Demon Jr., the son of the legendary Blue Demon, he admits to
spending nearly every waking moment underneath his mask. Everything he does out
in public must be under his mask; it's a lonely way to live, one where he's
instantly recognizable and yet nobody truly knows him.
But there are others who wrestle out in
the open without masks. Shocker, who refers to himself as "1000%
Guapo" is one of the most popular luchadores in Mexico. I remember him
from watching Lucha Libre on Universidad television on Saturday nights. He was
one of the few who made it from wrestling in the street venues all the way to
the historic Arena Mexico, an always-packed stadium designed strictly for Lucha
Libre. The film mostly focuses on Shocker as he deals with the glories and
agonies that come with his fame. Although he's one of the most recognizable
faces in the sport, you never get the sense that Shocker is wealthy. He lives
modestly, works in his own restaurant during off hours, and struggles when an
injury puts him out of action for months. Again, the question is asked whether
the fame is worth the financial and physical hardship.
Hammond and Markiewicz do a good job
cluing in those who may not be familiar with Lucha Libre by breaking down the
terminology and the different match types. There are obviously comical elements
that are as much a part of the presentation as in-ring action. There are dwarf
grapplers whose job is to delight the kids, and there are popular female stars,
such as Lucha Underground's Sexy Star, who frequently battle their male
counterparts. You won't find that in the WWE anymore. Sexy Star openly talks
about her suicidal tendencies and how wrestling is basically what keeps her going
each day. Where the film stumbles, other than in its lack of fresh insight, is
in its handling of deaths caused by the grueling life of a luchador. There
seems to be genuine confusion on how to approach them, like the in-ring death
of Perro Aguayo Jr. during a match against Rey Mysterio Jr. To be fair, the
interview subjects don't seem to have a clue how to address it, either. Death
just comes with the territory. There's also a missed opportunity in the form of
muscle-bound superstar, Jon Strongman, who brings a unique perspective as an
American inside the world of Lucha Libre. While the film takes us inside his
demanding physical regimen, he perhaps would have been a better guide to the
sport as someone coming to it from the outside, which is how much of the
audience will be approaching the film.
Fans of Beyond the Mat and Darren
Aronofsky's The Wrestler probably already have Lucha Mexico on their radars, and if not then they
should. Others who may just be feeling their way through Lucha Libre will want
to check it out as it unmasks a cultural phenomenon that isn't going away
anytime soon.
Rating: 3 out of 5
